Extensor digitorum brevis muscle is an atavistic muscle occuring rarely in the dorsum of hand. The anomaly is so rare that it is usually diagnosed as a ganglion. In the case presented one hand was explored and the presence of the muscle on the other side was confirmed by electrography.

Conchal cartilage grafts were used in 38 patients during rhinoplasty. They were used for dorsum augmentation, contour correction and correction of tip deformities. Due to ease in harvesting, lack of donor deformities and the absence of warping and absorption we found the conchal cartilage an ideal donor material. It was used for the correction of cleft lip nose deformity, correction of depressed bridge, and tip problems. Technique of harvesting is simple and there was no donor site problem.

Learning and teaching of rhinoplasty by the 'open' method is becoming popular because of better exposure to the nasal skeleton than with the closed (endonasal) technique. 25 patients of rhinoplasty or septorhinoplasty done by this approach in the Plastic Surgery Department of Kasturba Medical College, Manipal have been retrospectively analysed to find out it's advantages and disadvantages, particularly in Indian patients. Primary or secondary open rhinoplasties were done for augmentation, reduction, correction of deviation or gross deformities and tip-plasty. Splints applied for all these post-operatively were made of dental modelling wax. The open approach can be recommended on Indian patients also, for all rhinoplasties demanding excellent exposure, and the resulting scar is insignificant. The main advantage is precision in restructuring and the disavantage is prolonged tip-oedema. Splint made of modelling wax is useful because it is cheap, light in weight and easy to mould.

Five finger-tip amputations and two fingers with pulp-loss were covered with reverse digital artery island flaps from the same finger. The flap was successful in all cases and provided cosmetically and functionally acceptable results. One patient had venous congestion, but the flap survived. This flap would be particularly useful when the nature of injury precludes the use of local advancement flaps and cross-finger flaps.

Epiphysis and hemi-joint transfer for reconstruction of the temporomadibular joint and ramus-condyle unit, using the proximal epiphyseal plate and proximal one third of the diaphyseal shaft of the fibula has been successfully performed in cases of hemifacial microsomia. A total of 6 cases belonging to the type II and III of skeletal type of hemifacial microsomia in the age group of 3 to 8 years have undergone this procedure. All patients have a good range of painless involvement at the temporomandibular joint with a proportionate growth at the neo ramus-condyle unit. Two cases with a follow up of 5 years have shown a growth of 0.4 cms and 0.5 cms per year respectively at the neo ramuscondyle unit and they have been illustrated.

The efficacy of free radical scavenger - Vitamin E (VE) in salvage of ischaemic skin flaps was studied in an experimental rat skin flap model. The animals were divided into two groups - a control group (N is equal to 15) who did not receive VE and a test group (N is equal to 15) who received VE starting one week preoperatively. No significant difference was found in flap necrosis between the control group (38.365 percent plus-minous 1.398 percent SEM) and the test group (35.288 percent plus-minous 0.635 percent SEM), which received therapeutic dose of VE (100 mg/kg/day. 1 mg is equal to 1.49 I.U). Further research is needed to establish the role of vitamin E as an agent of ischaemic skin flap salvage.

A case of extensive polydactyly of the foot is being reported because of its rarity. The result of surgery has been satisfactory from cosmetic and functional points of view. A comparison with similar cases reported in the literature is included.

A case of malignant schwannoma of the mandible in a forty year old female is presented because of its rarity at that site. The clinical features, histopathology and management is presented and the relevant literature is reviewed.

A 25 year old male with 50 percent deep burns died on the 10th post burn day due to cerbral malaria. The clinical features and post mortem findings are described. The need to think of another cause for symptoms which appear like septicaemia particularly in an unresponsive patient is emphasised.

151 children with cutaneous heamangiomas were treated using different treatment modalities and the results were compared. Intralesional triamcinolone was found to be the safest and most effective in strawberry lesions. Cavernous lesions in our study responded best to 50 percent dextrose injections. A combined approach of oral prednisolone and triamcinolone injections was found to be veryuseful for mixed lesions.